Danish Balachanthiran

Kitchen-hand / Cook

Country of origin: SRI LANKA

Danish grew up in Jaffna, a poverty-stricken town in North Sri Lanka. His father was a fisherman and Danish aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps. The war changed everything and he was forced to give up his dream of owning his own fishing boat. Witnessing some unspeakable horrors firsthand, he left his homeland when it became clear that it was not safe to stay.

Danish spent three months moving from country to country, including a grueling month on an overcrowded boat, fearing for his life and the life of his fellow asylum seekers.

Nowadays, Danish works as a kichen-hand and is training to be a cook. All his money is sent to his family back in Jaffna in the hope that it will keep them safe and that he may see them again.